1846.]

Orthodox Hymn Books.

43

We come now to three books, in which we may be supposed to take less interest. They belong to denominations, that are kindred to each other, but separate from us. As we open them, we cannot but be struck with the different impression that is made upon us. The air about us seems to grow heavy, and we walk in a light that has changed color and is suffering something like an eclipse. Nothing convinces us more than this contrast does of the diversity, in taste as well as opinion, between Christian truth as we receive it, and as it is embraced by our brethren who are called orthodox. These three works resemble each other closely in several respects. They are all inordinately large. The Baptist Collection, the " Psalmist," numbers 1180 pieces, besides the doxologies, and 52 more for chanting. We cannot count them so easily in the other two, as they do not run continuously, but are distinguished into psalms and hymns. The books, however, are at least as thick, one containing 652, and the other upwards of 700 closely printed pages. They all have this feature in common, that they are neither of them the achievement of a single hand, nor do they come before the world simply on their own responsibility. One owes itself to a "Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S."; another to the "General Association of Connecticut"; and the other, though independently prepared by Rev. Messrs. Stow and Smith, appears under the sanction of the "Board of Directors of the American Baptist Publication and Sunday School Society." They all present themselves, therefore, with some authority. Nine Baptist clergymen, from South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, have examined and recommended the "Psalmist," and a fac-simile of their signatures is attached to their certificate. Five distinguished names from our sister State are affixed in like form to the preface of the "General Association." The "Church Psalmist," of which this is the fifth edition, shows no less than fifteen names, some of them quite celebrated, appended to its "Advertisement." These, however, are but accidents, though accidents that have a certain alliance together; for books could hardly fail to be large, that were to meet the wishes, and suggestions too, of so great a number of persons. They are alike, however, in other ways.

They all assign a

particular department for the worship of "the Trinity," which is certainly a doctrine of inference merely where it is acknowledged to be true, and which the highest orthodoxy, that can be satisfied with the Scriptures, does not pretend to find under that generic title. They all adopt a style of expression concerning sacrifice and atonement, which, though much softened from what it was, has still a repulsive sound to our ears. That offensive hymn of Cowper, for instance, beginning,

"There is a fountain fill'd with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,"

is not wanting in either of them. They all allow themselves in representations of Providence and man that are little consistent with our habits of thought. And yet it has been very gratifying to see what improvement they have made in these respects beyond the ancient times. We find nothing near so harsh as we had to bear formerly. Not one of these compilations brings before the present public those enormities of Watts, that used to harrow former generations. Not one ventures to touch the terrible hymn that begins,

"My thoughts on awful subjects roll,

Damnation and the dead."

Not one retains any portion of that, of which the first verse is,

"Well, the Redeemer's gone

T' appear before our God,

To sprinkle o'er the flaming throne

With his atoning blood."

Not one, in describing the divine judgments, has anything the least resembling the ferocious hymn, the 44th of the 2d book, which we dare do no more than thus point at. Even,

"Blood has a voice to pierce the skies,"

is nowhere found, but has given place to milder expositions, even if it be of the same doctrine. We rejoice to pay this just commendation. We rejoice still more, that in paying it we recognize the progress that is making in a true religious refinement in all quarters. We ascribe this progress in a great degree to the theological institutions and the means of general instruction, which are everywhere encouraged.

1846.]

"Hymns and Anthems."

45

Learning is honored in sects that once strove to be independent of it. Sacred studies are pursued in companionship, and with the lights of the world around them, and so lose the scholasticism of the cloister. They mingle with the literature of the time, and the science that is above the prejudice or fashions of any time; with the philosophy of beauty, and the reverence of art; and so shoot out into a free and graceful culture. We do not feel called upon to express any opinion as to the relative merits of these three books. It might not seem sufficiently modest; and more than that, it would not be very easy. We are persuaded, that they are all a great deal better than what has been displaced to make room for them. We have no doubt that they will satisfy entirely the wants of the congregations, for which they have severally been prepared. The Baptist Collection enjoys an advantage in having one of its compilers himself a poet, who is held in estimation beyond the borders of his own sect. No less than nine of his hymns have been introduced into the full ranks of the Committee of the Cheshire Pastoral Association. We may add, that it has gathered its ingredients with at least as liberal a search and culling as its companions. We have even thought that it owed something to the influences of the neighborhood in which it was produced.

The little book called "Hymns and Anthems" stands in strange contrast with its somewhat clumsy associates just noticed. It is indeed a little one, containing but one hundred and fifty pieces, and those for the most part of extreme brevity, some of them literally but three or four lines long. It is delicately printed too, after the newest English fashion. It may be thought scarcely to come within the fair scope of our present article, being a foreigner and four years old. But it has some interest for us, as having been made for the chapel of the celebrated W. J. Fox of London; and besides this, it possesses a character that is peculiarly its own. It departs widely from all that we have been accustomed to consider as the proprieties of a hymn-book. It is composed of rhymes, blank verse, and plain prose. Among its contributors we find Goethe and the Prophet Habakkuk, St. Gregory and Lord Morpeth, St. John and Lord Byron, King David and Percy B. Shelley. Lines from Shakspeare's Tempest are found on the same page with lines from Alfred

Tennyson. The Roman Breviary and Coleridge's Ancient Mariner alike bring something to its net. Some of our own poets are there, Bryant, Longfellow, Pierpont, Bulfinch and W. B. O. Peabody. It is certainly none the worse, but all the better for these. We do not know that

we can say so much for 123, which begins:

"Britain's first poet, Famous old Chaucer, Swan-like in dying

Sung his last song,

When at his heart-strings.

Death's hand was strong."

With all this, it is not so altogether an oddity as our readers might fancy from our description. We have read in it some charming things, that we would rather see here. than not see at all. Several of these gems are by Mr. Fox himself, Robert Nicoll, Ebenezer Elliot and Miss Sarah F. Adams. The choicest of them may be found set among the brilliants, or rather the pearls, of the "Disciples' Hymn Book," to which we referred just now. What can be finer in its kind than the concluding piece, by the minister of Finsbury Chapel ?

"Call them from the dead

For our eyes to see?"

In fact, we should love it exceedingly, if it were only called Sacred Jewelry, and kept upon the parlor table. As it is, we fear that it indicates an apostasy, more serious than its own, from ancient ideas and the consecrated forms of worship. It is divided into two "books," for what reason we know not, since the pieces are numbered in sequence, and flow on without much attempt at order. We surmise, however, as the cause, that when the work was printed, only the first half of it had been furnished with music; for there was an obvious necessity in most cases to have the tunes made expressly for the words. This has been done so far as the first book goes, and duly recorded in the index. But when we come to the second, we are told that the musical arrangements and adaptations for it were not quite completed. From all this it is plain, that a chief part of the design has been, to produce striking effects from the orchestra. We need not say what strong

1846.]

Duty of American Women.

47

objections, in our judgment, lie against the introduction of such artistical refinements into religious services. There is no temptation in our country, certainly at present, to imitate so ambitious an example. But we take this opportunity to utter our protest against any innovations, that would tend to unchurch the sanctuary; that would turn the house of God either into an oratorical theatre or a concert-room.

N. L. F.

ART. IV.-DUTY OF AMERICAN WOMEN.*

THE object of this appeal is to rouse American women on a subject of great importance, and particularly to draw their attention to an attempt which many ladies of different states and denominations are now making, "to promote popular education by the agency of American women." It is intended so to conduct this enterprise, that "every woman, of whatever character or standing, may feel an interest in it, and do something to sustain it," while "no one is made prominent." A Committee of gentlemen of six different religious denominations have consented to act for those who originated the plan, and among others, they recommend the immediate and universal circulation of this appeal, as one of the best preliminary measures.

The work itself, which we are thus called upon to bring under the notice of as many readers as possible, seems to us written with a high object, considerable ability, and admirable adaptation to its purpose. We think those who cry out, what is there not enough done yet for popular education; is not this country remarkable for the opportunities of instruction laid before all classes?' will be silenced, when they read the startling facts presented in this little book. The statistical details form a solid foundation on which an appeal to the good sense of the reader rests firmly; and we think none who read the address candidly, can doubt that the danger is as great, the emergency as pressing, and the duty of prompt effort as imperative, as they are represented.

The Duty of American Women to their Country. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. 18mo. pp. 164.